By Alpha Amadu Jalloh
Mr. President, here we are again. Today is yet another disappointing day for me, and I believe for countless Sierra Leoneans who have grown weary of the way our nation is being governed. Each day brings a fresh shock, a new affront to the intelligence and dignity of the people of Sierra Leone. And while the public endures these shocks, I am certain that even those within your government are equally stunned by your actions or inactions.
Let me get straight to the point. Mr. President, are you seriously telling us that the Finance Minister’s speech to Parliament claiming that 45% of our domestic revenue is spent on government wage bills did not go through your office for review and approval before being presented to the public? Are we to believe that, as the chief executive of this nation, you are unaware of such critical financial disclosures? Or is it that you simply do not care about the implications of such revelations on the morale and trust of the people?
If you do not care, then I must say this loud and clear: your disregard for the people of Sierra Leone has reached intolerable levels.
How can you, in good conscience, continue to make frivolous appointments like a leader who has completely lost control? Mr. President, even as the nation struggles to breathe economically, you persist in bloating the government payroll with unnecessary appointees. This reckless behavior is what we, in local parlance, refer to as “di kyn fiti fata wae yu dae mek appointment lek crazy man.” It’s absurd and insulting to the people who are footing the bill for this madness.
Take, for example, the recent appointment of Lt. General Peter K. Lavahun as Ambassador to Kenya. Mr. President, what exactly qualifies him for this role? What diplomatic expertise or experience does he bring to the table? The answer is obvious to everyone—nothing.
And then there’s the case of the Deputy High Commissioner to Nigeria. Mr. President, let us not pretend that these appointments are about serving Sierra Leone’s interests. They are clearly about clearing out individuals you no longer want in the system and compensating them at the taxpayers’ expense. Why burden the people of Sierra Leone with this costly exercise? If these individuals are no longer needed, exercise your prerogative as president to fire them. That is your right, but it is also your responsibility to do so in a way that does not bleed the country dry.
Another baffling decision is the establishment of an embassy in Nairobi, Kenya. Why? We already have an embassy in Ethiopia, which has been handling our diplomatic interests in the region. What strategic or economic benefit does opening a new embassy in Nairobi bring to Sierra Leone? The answer is none. Instead, it adds another layer of financial burden on a nation that is already gasping for air.
Mr. President, let us face the truth: you are destroying our economy. Even the faintest signs of recovery are being suffocated by your administration’s reckless spending and poor priorities. Instead of easing the strain on the economy, your government seems intent on wringing every last drop out of it.
Mr. President, Sierra Leoneans are tired of the broken promises, tired of the mismanagement, and tired of the blatant disregard for their well-being. You must remember that the people of this nation have the ultimate authority to hire and fire their leaders. Your presidency is not a birthright or a permanent appointment; it is a privilege granted to you by the people. And based on the realities on the ground, it is clear that you have failed them.
We are fed up with tokenism. It is time for you to change your ways and start prioritizing the needs of the people. Stop this culture of compensating unqualified individuals with high-profile positions at the expense of the nation’s future. The people deserve better.
Mr. President, our economy is on its knees. Inflation is rampant, unemployment is soaring, and public services are crumbling. Yet your government continues to drain what little resources we have on unnecessary expenditures. The 45% of domestic revenue that goes into government wage bills is an unsustainable figure. And while you seem content to carry on with business as usual, the average Sierra Leonean is struggling to put food on the table.
“Bo Mr. President, wetin really na yu problem ba?” Do you not see the suffering around you? Or have you grown so insulated from the realities of ordinary Sierra Leoneans that their pain no longer registers?
Mr. President, it is not too late to change course. Start by addressing the bloated government payroll. Reduce the number of unnecessary appointments and focus on merit-based hiring. Close embassies that serve no strategic purpose and redirect those funds toward critical sectors like healthcare, education, and infrastructure.
Most importantly, listen to the people. Their voices are loud, clear, and unified in their demand for better governance. They are tired of empty rhetoric and superficial gestures. They want real change, and they want it now.
Mr. President, the ball is in your court. Will you rise to the occasion and lead this nation toward a brighter future? Or will you continue down this destructive path, ignoring the cries of your people until it is too late? The choice is yours, but know this: the people of Sierra Leone are watching, and they will hold you accountable.
Sierra Leone deserves better. It is time for you to step up and deliver.
